Car-coupling



2 Sheetg-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

H. L PBC-K, GAR GOUPLI'NG; A

No. 368,352. .Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

Pneus4 rhowummmn wnmngwn, n. c.

2 sheets-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. L. PECK.

CAR GOUPLING.

No. 888,852. Patented Aug. 18, 1887.

N, PETERs Phnwumgnpher, wnmngwn. D4 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY LEVI PEGK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,352, dated August 16, 1887.

Application filed January 4, 1887. Serial No. 223,346.

.will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car-couplers of the type described in my United States Patents Nos. 301, 750 and 346,559.

My improvement consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts, hav-v ing in view the simplification and enhanced effectiveness of the coupler described in my aforesaid Letters Patent.

The ensuing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, will make clear the improvements, and the claims at the close of this specification will distinctly point out the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical lon gitudinal section of two of my improved coup- 1ers when coupled. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of a draw-bar and coupling devices when not in use. Fig. 3shows a longitudinal section of the draw-bar. Fig. 4 represents a central horizontal section of one of my improved couplers. Fig. 5 shows a side eleA vation of the gravity-hook. Fig. 6 is an end view of a draw-bar'and coupling devices. Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of the link and link-shaft. Fig. 8 represents my improved coupler with operatingconnections attached to a car. Fig. 9 is a View in perspective of the support for one end of the opcrating-con nections of the link-shaft.

My improved coupler consists of a drawbar, A, link B, link-shaft C, and the gravityhook D, and each end of the car is provided with this device.

The draw-bar is hollow and is preferably made in one solid piece, though it may be made of two separate pieces, which are counterparts of each other and which may be joined in any desired way. In the sides of the head ofthe draw-bar are openings c, which are of irregular form, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer sides being inclined and the inner sides being provided with shoulders a2.

(No model.)

The peculiar shape of these openings is for 'the purpose of permitting, when desired, the

insertion and removal of the link-shaft. To accomplish the insertion of the parts, the link B is placed in the open end of the draw-bar and raised untilits upper surface is parallel with the inclined portion ai* of the opening a, in which position the openings aand the horizontal slot b of the link will be in the correct relative positions for the insertion or removal of the link-shaft. As these parts can never be placed in such relative positions by any movement ofthe same when in use, the linkshaft is in no danger of slipping out through the openings a.

The link B is provided with vertical and horizontal slots I) b and neck b2. The slot b is of sufficient size to receive the broadest part of the link-shaft C. This linkshaft is constructed as shown in Fig. 7 and has rounded ends, while the central portion is flat and broad. The front edge of this flat portion is provided at each end with shoulders c, and between these shoulders there is the curved part c. The rear wall of the horizontal slotin the link is correspondingly curved, and by reason ofthelink embracing the link-sl1aft at the point provided with the curved front the outer end of the link is permitted to have a certain amount of lateral movement, and yet have a close connection with the link-shaft and no lost motion between them. The rounded ends are designed to rest and turn readily in the openings a c oi' the draw-bar, dropping into their lowest position when the link is not in use, but resting on the shoulders a2 when the outer end of the link is raised ready for coupling.

The outer end of the draw-bar A has an opening, A", in the outer face, through which the link B projects when the same is used to connect the draw-bar with the corresponding draw-bar of another car. llithin this opening the head is chambered at each side, as shown at 1, forming the vertical shoulders l and the horizontal shoulders lb, connected by the curved portion 10. This chambered portion is of sufficient extentto admit the widened Hat portion of the link-shaft and permit the shoulders c to bear against the vertical shoulders l of the draw-bar when the link is in a horizontal position and to permit such shoulders of the linkshaft to rest upon the shou1- IOO ders 1b when the link is in a pendent or vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

To the rear of the chambered portion ofthe draw-bar is the recess 2, which receives the rear end of the link when it is in a horizontal position, as shown at the left hand in Fig. 1. The upper part of this recess connects with the hollow space within the draw-bar, and on each side a curved groove or track, 3, extends backward and downward, terminating near the bottom of the draw-bar. This track or groove, at the lower` end, is provided withthe forwardly-extending recess 3". The use of this feature of construction will appear hereinafter.

To the end or ends of the link-shaft are attached rods d, or any other suitable connect ing device, by means of which the shaft may be turned when desired. These rods terminate in a lever or hand-wheel located at the sides of the car, and the outer ends of the rods are preferably supported by the U-shaped bearings or supports E, which are fastened to the under side ofthe car and are provided with spring-clasps e for the purpose of holding the rods d temporarily in a desired position. Thismay be accomplished by raising the rods d until they are grasped by the compressing force of the ends of the spring e. Thiswill hold the link in position when coupling the cars; but it is easily and quickly released either by hand or by thejar of the cars in coming together or when in transit.

The preferred form of the gravity-hook D is shown in Fig. 5. It is provided with trunnions g g and with shoulders g. The hook lc, which is narrower than the main body of the device, has a convex outer face and a concave inner face. The part k is pivoted to D above the shoulder g. This part k is provided with a concave under surface, so that when folded upon the main body of the hook it will lie closely thereto. A rod or chain, 13, is attached to the rear end of the pivoted portion, by means of which the pivoted portion and the forward end of the hook may be raised. lVhile I prefer to make the hook of this form, the part 7a may be dispensed with and the rod or chainfi may be connected to the hook at or near the point at which the part k' is pivoted to theI main body of the device. This hook is placed in its operative position within the draw-bar by inserting the ends providedv with the trunnions g g through the opening A2 in the drawhead and raising the same until said trunnions engage the grooves 3, and-then forcing the hook steadily backward until the trunnions rest on the bottom of said groove or track. After the hook has been placed in this position, the link and link-shaft are inserted, as heretofore described, and the coupling is complete. As has been explained, the link and link-shaft cannot be accidentally displaced. The hook is also in operative position and cannot be removed, except intentionally by rst removing the link and link-shaft. When the link and link-shaft are removed,the falling of the head of the hook will draw the trunnions into the recesses 3,

from which position the hook D must be removed by hand before it can be taken from the draw-bar.

The link B is provided at its rear with the recess b3. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 6.) When the link is in theposition shown at the right in Fig. 1 and in Fig.l 6, thefront of the part 7c falls into such recess, and when draft is put upon such hook by the link of the car coupled therewith the4 front is drawn against the forward Wall of such recess,afford ing a support for the free end of the head of the hook k. This engagement with the link serves, also, to keep the latter steady in its pendent position. In order to prevent the hook from accidentally rising out ofengagement with the llink of the adjacent car, I provide the interior of the head of the draw-bar with shoulders 4. (Best seen in Fig. 3.) When the hook D is drawn to its forward position by the draft upon it, the shoulders g are drawn under the shoulder A and against a vertical shoulder of the draw-bar 41.

When the hook is in the position just above described, t-he trunnions have been drawn forward into the recesses 3a, but without being in contact with the forward walls of the same, and the draft upon 7a, being resisted by the contact of shoulders g against the shoulders 4? and by the bearing of the point against the forward end of then recess b3 in the link, is is transmitted through the link and the trunnions of the link-shaft to the draw-head.

The hinged portion 7c is ofvsuch length `between its extremities that when the coupling is completed the hook receives the draft ofthe car to which it is coupled, and the part k', relieved from all support, will fall by its own gravity into the position shown at the right in Fig. l, with its rear end bearing against the rear wall of the opening in the top ofthe head of the draw-bar, locking the hook against allrearward movement.

In the under side of the drawhead, andimmediate] y below the neck of the link B,is aA re cess, b. When the link B is not in use, it falls by its own weight and takes the position shown in Figs 2 and 6, the neck dropping into the recess b. In this position it is entirely out of the way and the heads ofthe draw-bars of ad jacent cars can come together without danger of breakage. The openings ct a in the ldrawhead are provided with guides L, and around the aperture m,` through which the hinged part 7c of the hook is raised, is a guide or guard, L'.

In Fig. SI have shown three different means which may be employed for raising the hook D out of engagement with the draft-link of the adjacent car. At the right of the car I have shown a rod, N, mounted in horizontal bearings and provided on its outer end with ahandgrasp,a. The inner'end is provided with a crank-arm, a', from which extends a link, i,

and connects with the hook. The rod may extend, if desired, entirely across the front of IOO the car, so that it maybe operated from either y side ofthe car, and the hand-grasp may be a hand-wheel or lever-arm.

On the left side of Fig. 8 I have shown a lever, N', pivoted tothe end of the car, the inner end of this lever being connected by the link i to the hook D, as will be obvious. Two of these levers may be employedone at each side of the ear-or the rod fi may be extended to the top of the car and provided with a handgrasp, as is also shown in Fig. S, by which means the hook may be raised from the top of the car.

It will be observed that each coupler employed by me is of exactly the same construction and has the same parts. There are no right or lelt characteristics to require selection of parts in mounting and attaching the coupler, but each coupler is complete in itself and may be attached to either end of the car, and is at once ready for use.

The hook, link, and link-shaft of one coupler are exactly the saine as the hook, link, and link-shaft of any other coupler, and, being connected to the draw-bar by loose engagement therewith, upon any one part being broken or damaged it can be immediately replaced by the corresponding part of any other coupler not in use or from supply stores of these articles.

It will also be seen that the construction of my coupler enables me to connect readily with the ordinary pin-andlink coupling devices, either by causing the link of the ordinary coupler to engage the hook D or by using the link B in place thereof.

Slight differences in the height of adjacent cars'are also provided for, it not being necessary for connecting purposes that the link B should be on an exact level. The construction, too, is such as to secure great strength and durability. Vhen a link D has been coupled to an adjacent car, the draft upon said link is received by the broad portion of the link-shaft, the reduced portion of said shaft in the aperture ot the head of the draw-bar not receiving the draft on said shaft unless in case of accident to some of the other parts.

The operation of the device is as follows: Vhen it is desired to connect cars, the hand wheel or lever on the rod d, connected to one ot` the link-shafts, is turned until the outer end of the link is raised suiiiciently to enter the mouth of the corresponding draw-head on the other car. The rod (l is then either raised until it is firmly grasped in the spring-clasp e or held by the operator. The cars may then be moved together until the link enters the corresponding draw-head and comes in contact with, raises, and passes the gravity-hook D. This hook at once drops and catches the vertical slot b ofthe link, and the coupling is complete. The operation of uncoupling is by raising the hook D, which' releases the link, allowing the ears to be separated.

It will be noticed that in my coupler there are no rigid fastenings, nor are any pivots used. There is also a minimum danger of breakage or loss of any of the various parts, while the points of bearing are so distributed that there is no undue wear on any of the parts.

Another advantage is the readiness with which any of the parts may be removed and replaced with little trouble or loss of time.

I do not limit myself to the exact const-ructions shown and described, as modifications of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l The combination, with a hollow draw-bar, of a gravity-hook mounted within the bar and held in position by loose engagement with the interior of the bar, the said draw-bar being provided with an openingv in the end of the same, through which said hook may be inserted within the bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with ahollow draw-bar having an aperture in the side ofthe saine, of a draft-link mounted on a link-shaft, said linkshaft having a reduced portion lying in and engaging the aperture in the side of the bar and a larger portion within the draw-bar embraced by the link, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a hollow drawbar having apertures in its sides, of a draftlink mounted upon a linkshaft, said linkshaft having reduced portions lying in and engaging said apertures in the sides of the draw-bar, said link-shaft having also an enlarged portion within the bar and being removable through the apertures at the sides of the bar, substantially as described.

4. lThe combination, with a hollow drawbar having within it a grooved track or way, of a gravity-hook providedwith trunnions engaging said track or way, the said draw-bar being provided with an opening in the end of the same, through which said hook may be inserted within the bar, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a hollow drawbar having shoulders 4 and 4t, of a gravityhook in loose engagement with the interior of said bar, provided with shoulders g g', and a link and shaft supporting the .free end of the hook, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a hollow drawbar having an elongated opening in the top of the same, of a gravity-hook in loose engagement with the interior of the bar and a part hinged or pivoted thereto, lying in the aperture in the top of the draw-bar, and of such length that when the hook is in its lowest and most forward position the rear end of the hinged part lies against the rear end of the said aperture, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a hollow drawbar having apertures in its sides and shoulders 4., of a link having a recess in the rear end ofthe same, a link-shaft engaging the apertures in the sides of the draw-bar, and a gravity-hook engaging said shoulders and said recesses, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a hollow drawbar having an elongated opening in the sides and a recessed portion, 1, within the same, of a draft-link having a horizontal slot in the rear part of the same, and a link-.shaft having a broad flat central portion engaging the slot in the link and lying in the said recessed portion ofthe bar, and round ends engaging the apertures in the sides of the bar, substantially as described. Y

9. The combination, with a hollow drawbar having elongated apertures in the sides, a recessed portion, 1, and shoulders 1, of alinkf shaft having trunnions engaging the apertures in the sides of the bar, and a broad iiat portion within the recess, with its forward edge bearing against the shoulders 1, and a link embracing the broad portion of said bar, substantially as described.

10. rlhe combination, with a hollow drawbar having apertures in its sides and a recess, 1, within it, of a link-shaft having trunnions within said apertures, a broad lat portion within said recess, said at portion havingv shoulders c and the curved portion c', and a link embracing the part of said shaft having the curved portion, substantially as described.

11. A car-coupler consisting of a hollow draw-bar, a draftlink, and a gravity-hook,

both having loose engagement with the said draw-bar and being instantly removable there from, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a draw-bar, of a draft-link, a link-shaft, a rod connected with the link-shaft by a loose joint extending to the side of the car, and a support or bearing for said rod,having the opening therein narrower at the top, whereby the said rod can be lifted and retained in said narrower portion, substantially as described.v y

13. The combination, with a draw-bar, of a draft-link, a rod connected with thelink-shaft by a loose joint. extending to the side of the car, and a bearing or support for said rod, having interior spring-flanges narrowing the opening toward the top, substantially as described.

14. A bearing for a couplingoperating rod, having an elongated opening, and springflanges narrowing said opening at one end, substantially as described.

15. The combination, with a hollow draw-A bar, of a draft-link, a link-shaft having the curved portion c', the said link embracing the linkshaft and having the rear wall of the shaft-opening curved to correspond with the curved portion of the shaft, substantially as described. Y Y

In testimony whereof Iaftlx my signature in Witnesses:

G. D. MARTIN, A. H. ADmNGToN. 

